The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-02

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: another and more momentous evolution
and had become-love. The awakenin
was brought about by circumstances whic
threatened to quench in miserable gloor
the struggling flame.
1t is necessary to explain something Q
the architecture and interior arrangement
of the quaint, old fashioned building. Their
is tradition that our house, at the soutl
corner of Lincoln Square, was once tn
home of one of Elizabeth's most famou
courtiers 1t is one of the few in the cit,
still possessing a garden green gem il
the grim, unsightly setting of encirclin!
bricks and mortar. The counting -hous
and business premises occupied an entir,
and commodious suite of rooms at the ives
corner of the edifce. They were carefully
divided and made distinct from the still
larger section of Raleigh House, which fol
forty years had been my uncle's bachelor
residence.
There was a room built out from the
main portion of the eastern pile, and con
nected by covered passage with the con
servatory, which was devoted to my own
use. In it l set up my easel and gave free
rein to the enthusiasm for art which my
stay in Rome had quickened; and it wa,
the custom for Mr.. Hollinsworth and Os.
wald Wardour to leave the counting house
from the rear-they were invariably last
and sending in their keys by the trusted
butler, man who had been in my uncle's
employ for quarter of century, to pas:
under the windows of my studio to the
gate at the end of the broad path. l trust
that this will make plain the happening of
that which next | have to relate.
1t was excessively close for the last week
of May-there was surely thunder in the
air. | was tired of painting, and | had re-
treated from the slowly slanting blaze of
sunlight which had crept halfway up my
easel to shady corner behind the screen
that masked the entrance to the conserva-
tory. The steps l knew so well soon
sounded on the asphalted path without
The window was open, and ! heard voices
in earnest debate. Oswald had looked fur
lively in, and fancied the room was vacant,
while 1 smiled in my roguish mischief at
hi: error-a smile that quickly faded
"Yes, it is a round two hundred that 1
need, and that, by hook or by crook, 1
must have. Can you accommodate Inc at
pinch, Hollinsworth ?" Oswald said.
They had halted; and in my own despite
I was forced to play the eavesdropper, to
hear, with tingling cheeks, my own lame
brought into the discussion.
POSSIBLY ! can, But you must answer
question before | give you definite de-
cision," said the senior clerk in smooth
tones, that somehow made me shiver "Do
argue correctly from observation in be-
lieving that you are aiming at high game,
Wardour-that you propose to win the
hand of Miss Bertha Craig?"
Plainly, Oswald hesitated My poor
foolish heart seemed to cease its beating,
awaiting the reply. At last it came, in an
outburst Of tempestuous passion The in-
coherent syllables revealed the speaker S
agitation 'You have-divined-
Strangely regret tiny secret. l love
Bertha. You are the first to hear the con-
fession." He little guessed that he had
two listeners. at will go no further, l am
convinced, from your lips, Hollinsworth.
What bearing has this on my request?"
The other gave dry cough. The fact
constitutes sort of security, don't you
see?" he said.
They had resumed their progress towards
the gate. | was alone with my new-found
Joy, My heart went out yearningly in a
full and free response. Oswald should ask
but to have.
Yet even at this stage there were storm
clouds on the horizon. My uncle, who for
so many years had stood to me in the place
of both my dead parents-and mother
could scarcely have been more tender, a
father more patient and forbearing-would
very probably object, and consider himself
victimized by those he had befriended. l
was but child in his eyes still, though my
twentieth birthday had passed. and | had
CONVICTION that he had formed quite a
different plan for my future. Again, there
could be no very cheerful meaning to Os-
wald Wardour's urgent need of so consid-
cradle sum as two hundred pounds.
My forebodings with respect to my uncle's
opposition speedily were justified by the
event He drew me very quietly one morn
ing into the big desolate chamber which
was called the library, and SO rarely used
al have heard whisper, Bertha, which l
hope has no foundation in fact" he said.
81 will keep my own counsel as to its precise
terms. 1 have two things to say. Your
cousin, Roger Hilton, is coming to England
in the autumn from his firms branch at
Hong Kong. He will be made partner
at Christmas. l want you to be friends. !"
He emphasized the word. "The other
matter concerns Wardour Iwould like to
help him up the ladder, but you must not
tempt him to presume. You and he had
better be practically strangers to one
another. Ifthere is any danger of mistake,
will at once fill Wardour's place with a
substitute; there are plenty to be had
1t was in every sense plain speaking.
Twice 1 had attempted-in vain-to inter-
rupt, and when my uncle had finished, he
waved me sternly into silence. "NOt now;
some other time, Bertha" he said, and was
gone,
Perhaps 1t was well that my indignant
self-defence and championship of Oswald
was ruthlessly suppressed. lam of an i'm
pulsive temperament, as doubtless has
already been disclosed, and might have
pitifully blundered But my brain was in
a whirl, and l was embittered against Mr..
Hollinsworth, who, beyond reasonable ques-
ton, had made traitorous use of the admis-
sion wrung from his too confding colleague.
This disagreeable episode was but the
early muttering of the coming tempest.
Two days later the storm broke in its fury.
My uncle had been robbed A forgery
had come to light, and every atom of evil
dence combined to fix the guilt of the ne
farious deed upon Oswald Wardour.
"The chain of proof is complete and ire
fragable, Bertha. l earnestly wish could
escape the conclusion to which it points, /"
said my uncle, sitting in his smokingchair
and watching with curious, troubled pity
my pale and pleading countenace.
"You will forgive me that | have still
faith in Mr.. Wardour's integrity" l said.
Very strange and far off my words sounded
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